Cat behaviour issues. Advice appreciated

meritaten

reading all the posts I think I could conclude its 'excitement/overstimulation' behaviour towards a human they have learned to love/trust.
interesting - I thought it was just Timmy, my first cat. but obviously other owners reporting it and its in similar circumstances, gives me 'paws for thought'. (sorry, couldn't resist the pun).
latest cat Barnes, loves the big flat mouse he can hold and rabbit kick - was a Christmas pressie and its nearly destroyed now. he has never attempted to do this with me though. he really really loves it when I rub catnip into it!

Barbarian

We have three cats, two of which were brothers, both neutered. They are very affectionate with each other and will cuddle and lick, but sometime the licking turns to biting, then comes the rabbit kicking, then it can all calm down to licking again. So I think it's natural behaviour.


You could try gently stroking your cat at a time when it's feeling sleepy and avoid times when it's excited. If it starts to bite, leave it alone. After a while it will come to regard that as normal behaviour for a human! Don't worry about waking your cat, they can wake and sleep again faster than just about any other animal.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

My idiot cat gets like this. Occasionally. The rest of the time, I can do what I like to him, stroke him, poke at him, pick him up, stick bare feet under him if I'm cold in bed, play with his ears, paws and tail.

I've had him since he was tiny, he's always been handled, he was neutered as soon as he started humping the other cat at six months(ish) - he's just a bit of a knob sometimes.

My old girl would batter, claw and bite the hell out of my hand if I put gloves on or moved my hand under the duvet (it's called 'playing duvet mice').


Don't be scared of him - if he does it, he loses his seat, but give him the opportunity to do it on your terms.

pleasedelete

I had an adopted tom like that.He was aloof for the 1st 12 months. He was a big hunter and got rabbit lice (lovely). Over 2 weeks I picked each one off him with tweezers. he changed completely and became the softest cat i have ever had. I have to say he really only took to me- slept onto of me, rubbed me etc- pretty much ignored my husband for 12 years!